Now, three politicians have stepped down from their roles in the university’s court “in protest” of her salary.

PA Archive/PA Images

Kerry McCarthy has stepped down from her role over the 'excessive' pay of Breakwell

In a joint statement released today, Labour MPs Kerry McCarthy and David Drew said Breakwell’s salary could not be justified “especially when students are taking on debts of £60,000 to pay fees, and spending 30 years of their working lives paying them off”.

Meanwhile, Bristol North West MP Darren Jones announced on Facebook this afternoon that he was stepping down, stating that “students take on excessive debt to get a good education, not to pay bloated executive pay”.

“Students in my constituency are paying increasingly high tuition fees, with many families helping their children out with the costs associated with going to university,” Jones wrote.

“Vice chancellors pay needs to be set within the context of value for money.”